Slack-adjuster.



W. H. SAUVAGE SLACK ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-25.1916.

Patented May 29, 1917.

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\VILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF FLUSI-I'ING, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR T0 GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SLACK-ADJUSTER.

Application filed January 25, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, citizen of the United States, and resident of Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slack-Adjusters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to slack adjusters, and in its more intense aspect toautomatic slack adjusters particularly adapted for the brake rigging of railway cars.

One of the objects of the present inven tion is to provide a simple and practical slack adjuster which will be reliable and eflicient in use and operation. A. further object is to provide a slack adjuster of the above general type for truck use adapted to take up independently the travel of the brake shoes adjacent each wheel at the side of the truck. A further object is to provide a slack adjuster adapted to be used with either beam or beamless trucks and which may be substituted or applied to different styles of trucks now in use without material modification.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invent-ion accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing such parts of a truck frame and brake rigging as are necessary to under stand the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of certain arts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. While th Present invention is appl cable Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 74,185.

to various styles of trucks of either the beam or beamless types it will hereinafter be described with relation to its application to ordinary trucks of beam type. Referring to these drawings in detail and more particularly to Fig. 1, 5 denotes the side wheels of a truck mounted in suitable framing including the truck bolster 6 and spring plank 7. On one side of the bolster 6 projects a sup port 8 of usual construction to which is pivotally and adjust-ably connected a dead lever 10 carrying a brake shoe head 11 intermediate its ends and pivotally connected at its lower end 12 to one end of an extensible or telescopic push rod 13.

This push rod comprises two telescopic parts, that is, a casing 13 and an interfitting or coacting member 1% which letter is pivotally connected at the point 15 to the lower end of live lever 16. This live lever is provided intermediate its ends with a corresponding brake shoe head 17 and is pivot ally connected at its upper end to pull rod 18. This pull rod of course leads to any type of brake actuating mechanism, such as power cylinder, not shown.

In order to obtain a desired and independent adjustment of each lever according to the wear of its associated brake shoe and parts there is provided independent adjusting mechanisms adapted to produce a progressive extension of the push rod 13 connecting the lower ends of the live and dead levers. This may be accomplished by securing to the spring plank 7 a bracket 20, Fig. 3, having two depending ears 21 and 22 with openings therein through which an adjusting rod 23 passes. This adjusting rod is pivotally secured at the point 24 to the barrel 13 of the extensible push rod and intermediate the ears 21 and 22 is clamped a friction springdevice 25 of a less width than the distance between the ears, thus providing a predetermined lost motion for brake shoe clearance and permitting a certain amount of travel of the brake rigging prior to the actuation of the extensible push rod.

At the opposite side of the spring plank is a second bracket 26, similar to that shown in Fig. 3, provided with ears 27 and 28 through which a second adjusting rod 30 is adapted to pass. This adjusting rod is pi Pa'tented May 29, 1917;

otally secured at the point 31 to the live lever 16 and is provided with a friction clamp device 32 adapted to slip along the rod 30 between the ears. Both the friction devices 25 and 32 may be of any desired width and an adjustment of the lost motion may be obtained by interposing one or more washers 33 at one or both places as desired.

A return spring for the actuating mechanism is indicated at 3& and comprises a substantially U-shaped member connected at its upper ends and bearing against one side edge of the live lever and having its lower end 35 engage the under side of the strut 36 carrying the brake shoe head 17 Intermediate its ends said spring is coiled a plurality of times about the pivot pin 31 in such a manner that when the upper end of the live lever is moved toward the right on applying the brakes, the spring will be placed under tension and automatically return the parts to normal position with the upper end of the live lever against the bolster 6 when the braking power is released. The rod 18 may have a continued end 37 adapted to act as an adjustable stop if so desired.

The automatic extensible push rod connecting the lower ends of the live and dead levers may be of any desired type adapted effectively and positively to hold the excess travel of the brake rigging by mechanism operating between the effective ends of the members 13 and 14. It is preferred, however, to use a plurality of dogs 38 positioned within a housing 40 and normally held in canted position by spring 41 in such a manner as to permit an extension of the push rod yet positively prevent any inward movement of the member 1 1 within the casing 13 under normal operation. Suitable release mechanism such as release lever 42 may be provided for moving the dogs to vertical posi tion to permit the parts to be restored to original position as when applying new brake shoes.

The device operates in substantially the following manner: On application of the brakes the upper end of the live lever 16 moves toward the right to carry its adjacent or associated brake shoe into contact with its respective wheel. Reactive movement takes place through the push rod 13 to the dead lever 10 to cause a corresponding movement of the brake shoe head 11. If excess travel takes place above that allowed by the lost motion devices, the friction clamps 25 and 32 will engage the ears 21 and 28 respectively and slide along their respective adjusting rods an amount exactly equal to the excess travel of the brake rigging due to wear of the brake shoes. This excess travel will be temporarily held by these friction devices and on release of the braking power, the parts will be returned to normal position under the action of release spring 34.

However, as these friction clamps coact with the ears 22 and 27 respectively they will hold the barrel 13 and pivot point 31 against further movement temporarily but as the release spring is of sufficient strength to return the live lever to full release position with the stop 37 in the position shown, the point 31 will act as a fulcrum and cause an outward movement of the member 1 1 from its casing 13 an amount exactly equal to the excess or false travel of the brake rigging. It of course being understood that the rod 1 1 is free to slip through the positively holding dogs 38 within the housing 10 when moved in one direction but is held against inward movement.

From the above it will be clear that excess travel of either brake shoe head will cause its associated adjusting, device to operate in a manner producing the desired adjustment of its associated lever prior to the next actuation of the brakes. The apparatus is simple, reliable and efficient under all conditions and is believed to accomplish among others, all of the objects and advantages above set forth.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowl edge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following, claims.

I claim:

1. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, and a temporary adjusting device having a yielding frictional connection associated with each lever adapted to cause independent adjustment of the push rod.

2. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a push rod connecting said levers independent adjusting means either of which is adapted to actuate said push rod on excess travel of either brake lever and a return spring connected with the live lever adjacent its point of connec tion with its adjusting means.

3. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a push rod connect ing said levers, a fixed support, a plurality of adjusting rods associated with said fixed support and the levers adapted to cause an actuation of the push rod as wear of the parts takes place and a return spring connected with the live lever adjacent its point of connection with its adjusting means.

4:. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a' dead lever, an extensible push rod connecting the lower ends of said levers, a fixed support, and an adjusting rod connected with said fixed support and one of the parts of saidextensible push rod.

5. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting the lower ends of said levers, a fixed support, and adjusting rods con nected with said support and one of the le-' vers and one of the parts of said push rod respectively.

6. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, a relatively fixed part of the truck frame, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said fixed part and one of the levers, and a second adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with another portion of said fixed part and one of the parts of said push rod.

In a slack ad uster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, a relatively fixed part of the truck frame, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said fixed part and one of the levers, a second adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with another portion of said fixed part and one of the parts of said push rod, and a release spring associated with the live lever.

8. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, a relatively fixed part of the truck frame, an adjusting rod having a connection with said fixed part and one of the levers, a second adjusting rod having a connection with another portion of said fixed part and one of the parts of said push rod, and a release spring associated with the connection between the live lever and its adjusting rod.

9. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, a relatively fixed part of the truck frame, an adjusting rod having a connection with said fixed part, and one of the levers, a second adjusting rod having a connection with another portion of said fixed part and one of the parts of said push rod, and a U-shaped release spring coacting with the live lever and coiled about the connection between the live lever and its adjusting rod.

10. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever. a dead lever, an extensible push rod connecting the lower ends of said levers, a spring plank, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said spring plank and one of said levers, and a second adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said spring plank at one end and a pivotal connection at its other end with one of the parts of said extensible push rod.

11. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, an extensible push connection.

12. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, an extensible push rod connecting the lower ends of said levers, a spring plank, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said spring plank and one of said levers, a second adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said spring plank at one end and a pivotal connection at its other end with one of the parts of said extensible push rod, means for adjusting the extent of lost motion at said lost motion connections, and a release spring associated with said mechanism.

13. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lover, a dead lever, an extensible push rod connecting said levers, a spring plank, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said spring plank and one of said levers, a second adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with said spring plank at one end and a pivotal connection at its other end with one of the parts of said extensible push rod, means for adjusting the extent of lost motion at said lost motion connections, and-a release spring associated with said mechanism, said release spring being coiled about the pivotal connection between one of said adjusting rods and the lever to which it is connected.

14L. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting the free ends of said levers, means associated therewith adapted to prevent inward movement of the telescopic parts of said push rod, a spring plank, an adjusting device between said spring plank and one of the levers, and a second adjusting device between said spring plank and one of the parts of said telescopic push rod.

15. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, holding means associated therewith adapted to prevent inward movement of the telescopic parts of said push rod, a spring plank, an adjusting device between said spring plank and one of the levers and a second adjusting device between said spring plank and one of the parts of said telescopic push rod, lost motion devices associated with each of said adjusting rods, and means for varying the lost motion.

16. In a slack adjuster, in combination, a live lever, a dead lever, a telescopic push rod connecting the free ends of said levers, dogs associated therewith adapted to prevent in- Ward movement of the telescopic parts of said push rod, a spring plank, an adjusting device between said spring plank and one of the levers, a second adjusting device between said spring plank and one of the parts of said telescopic push rod, lost motion devices associated with each of said adjusting rods, means for varying the 10st motion, and a release spring connected with said live lever and adapted to return the same to normal position against a relatively fixed stop.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 16th day of December A. D. 1915.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

